University of Santa Clara - Redwood Yearbook (Santa Clara, CA)

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THE REDWOOD 27 were presented even for that all-im- portant subject of town-park specula- tion, the German retreat of 1918. The oil companies are doing it t o boost the price. They are doing it to oust the little companies. The speculators are doing it to sell oil stock. The railroads are doing it to get rid of the auto stages — all these and others were the offerings of the populace, and so far as the well-paid political officials in charge of probes have enlightened us, they are perhaps all feasable theories. Casting aside idle speculation, how- ever, and with all apologies to the oil companies, who seem to be keeping starvation away, — from themselves, — it is undoubtedly true there is an acute world shortage of petroleum products which should demand the serious and immediate consideration of the Ameri- can people and their legislative repre- sentatives. The United States Geological Survey, a reliable source of information in these matters, estimates that our oil supply in the United States will, at the present rate of consumption, last eighteen years. Five million barrels of oil have been taken from American fields and there remain only six and one-half bil- lions. At an increased rate of con- sumption the supply will be gone be- fore the estimated eighteen years. The question does not call for hys- teria, nor need the family sell the flivver for fear that it will soon be useless. There are possible means of avoiding the calamity which the elim- ination of the supply would certainly cause, but the means must be adopted before the time of redemies is past. One hopeful source of supply is the shale found in Colorado, Wyoming and neighboring states. The possibility of getting oil in this way we must leave to scientists and investors. We hope for the best. There are other remedies, however, that are more certain and which are in the grasp of our legislators. A few suggestions are offered by W. W. Woods, California banker and oil ex- pert, which merit consideration in this regard as good common sense capable of immediate application. Mr. Woods, among other things, sug- gests that it is not advantageous to permit exportation of oil to the Orient, nor is it advantageous for this state to maintain lower prices here than else- where and thereby encourage exporta- tion to other states and countries. He also suggests that the automobile in- dustry should discontinue, for its own best interests, the manufacture of high- powered motors ; that hydro-electric power development should be in every way encouraged ; that concrete rather than oil roads should be built where possible ; that foreign ships flying the flag of nations who refuse to supply American ships should not be supplied from American sources ; that foreign oil companies should not be permitted

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26 THE REDWOOD studies, in dramatics, and on the grid- iron. The Election Irvin S. Cobb, American humorist, says the word pessimist is derived from the word pest — a common nui- sance — and ' ' mist ' ' — a fog — giving pessimist — a common nuisance who sees through a fog. The world has always been overbur- dened with these common nuisances — apparently they are essential in balanc- ing the more agreeable optimist — but right now on the eve of the Presiden- tial election there is an extraordinary number of the species. Pehaps, how- ever, the number is justified by the im- mense clouds of fog which surround the important issues of the campaign. It is to be feared lest if the present necessity of peering through campaign fog should long continue, the whole Ameri- can people be driven into the ranks of pessimism. When the nominees of each party were finally chosen, the prospects were especially bright for a spirited battle. The candidates were men of similar training and experience. Both Ohio statesmen, both newspaper men, both of public prominence, and opposing politics, we expected a campaign that would merit a conspicuous place in po- litical history. What has been the result? Twenty- three foreign wars in progress, first rate nations tottering toward bank- ruptcy, international trade rivalry ap- proaching a war of commercial compe- tition, Japanese troubles impending, Mexico unsettled, the H. C. L. still towering, labor rumbling, Ireland torn in revolt and pleading to America, So- vietism threatening the world, — all this and more, and with it all the two Ohio gentlemen must amuse themselves with campaign funds ! People have lost interest. The issues are misty, the fog is thick, the pessimist is justified. Must the voter go to the polls and cast his ballot tails you win, heads I lose ? This is the first national election in which all American women have the privilege of sharing in the vote for President. What a pity if in casting their first vote they indiffer- ently make their choice in the old Down East fashion — Pa was a Demmycrat, so I may as well be too . No Gas Sugar rations and meat- less days of a not very distant past were mild inconveniences compared with the plague and torment motorists have suffered during the past sum- mer from the no-gas situa- tion. We will not venture to cata- logue many epithets with which certain oil men have been sprinkled by angry motorists marooned at midnight in re- mote villages, but one thing is certain — more explanations for the cause of the oil shortage have been offered than

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28 THE REDWOOD to develop and export American oil products, and that American bankers should not lend money to foreign na- tions which prohibit American partici- pation in oil production abroad. Mr. Woods ' suggestions deserve con- sideration. Harold J. Cashin, ' 21. To a Tiger Lily With conscious mein, in foliage green And her beautiful head held high, Sits the forest queen in her garb serene To bloom and to wither and die. Surrounded by pines and a carpet of vines She sways in the cool mountain air And the sun softly shines while gilding lines Of a red tiger lily so fair. Robert M. Martin, ' 24.